The AIF Project

Cyril Garfield John ASHMEAD

Regimental number1789
Date of birth--/11/1892
Place of birthWinton North, Victoria
ReligionMethodist
OccupationState school teacher
AddressGundowring PO, Gundowring, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Next of kinFather, Joseph Ashmead, Winton, Victoria
Enlistment date27 March 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll1 March 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name37th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/54/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board RMS Orontes on 16 August 1916
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll37th Battalion
Promotions

2nd Lieutenant


Unit: INF37
Promotion date: 26 June 1917

Lieutenant


Unit: INF37
Promotion date: 25 October 1917

Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Cross


Recommendation date: 24 June 1918

Military Cross


Recommendation date: 16 August 1918

FateKilled in Action 30 August 1918
Age at death from cemetery records25
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
127
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Joseph William and Mary Jane ASHMEAD, Winton North, Victoria
Medals

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. When his platoon was checked by heavy machine gun fire he went forward and personally led the ranks, encouraging them and his men to press on, and showing great coolness and power of command at a critical time. Later, he brought in three wounded officers who were lying out in front of his platoon.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 4 March 1919

Military Cross


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31
Date: 4 March 1919

'For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. When his platoon was checked by heavy machine gun fire he went forward and personally led the ranks, encouraging them and his men to press on, and showing great coolness and power of command at a critical time. Later, he brought in three wounded officers who were lying out in front of his platoon.'

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.